485BPOS

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 20, 2012

Registration Nos.: 2-71559
811-3162

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
  UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933  x

  Pre-Effective Amendment No.  o

  Post-Effective Amendment No. 40  x

and/or

  REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY  

  ACT OF 1940  x

  Amendment No. 41  x

Active Assets Tax-Free Trust

(a Massachusetts business trust)

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

522 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10036

(Address of Principal Executive Office)

Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (212) 296-6970

Stefanie V. Chang Yu, Esq.
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10036

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

Copy to:

Carl Frischling, Esq.
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036 Stuart M. Strauss, Esq.
Dechert LLP
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering:

As soon as practicable after this Post-Effective Amendment becomes effective.

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):

X	Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
	On October 31, 2012 pursuant to paragraph (b)
	60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
	On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
	75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
	On (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.

  Amending the Prospectus and Updating Financial Statements

  If appropriate, check the following box:

This post-effective amendment designates a new effective

date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York and State of New York on the 20th day of November, 2012.

ACTIVE ASSETS TAX-FREE TRUST
By:	/s/ Kevin Klingert
	Kevin Klingert
	President and Principal Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signatures			Title	Date
(1) Principal Executive Officer			President and Principal
			Executive Officer
By:	/s/ KEVIN KLINGERT
	Kevin Klingert			November 20, 2012
(2) Principal Financial Officer			Chief Financial Officer
By:	/s/ FRANCIS J. SMITH
	Francis J. Smith			November 20, 2012
(3) Majority of the Trustees
James F. Higgins
By:	/s/ STEFANIE V. CHANG YU
	Stefanie V. Chang Yu
	Attorney-in-Fact			November 20, 2012
	Frank L. Bowman	Michael F. Klein
	Michael Bozic	Michael E. Nugent (Chairman)
	Kathleen A. Dennis	W. Allen Reed
	Manuel H. Johnson	Fergus Reid
	Joseph J. Kearns
By:	/s/ CARL FRISCHLING
	Carl Frischling
	Attorney-in-Fact			November 20, 2012

3

EXHIBIT INDEX

Index No.	Description of Exhibit
EX-101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
EX-101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
EX-101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
EX-101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
EX-101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase
EX-101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
ProspectusDate	rr_ProspectusDate	Oct. 31, 2012
ACTIVE ASSETS GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TRUST (Prospectus Summary) | ACTIVE ASSETS GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TRUST
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Active Assets Government Securities Trust
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objectives
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	Active Assets Government Securities Trust is a money market fund that seeks to provide high current income, preservation of capital and liquidity.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. The Fund is a no-load fund. The Fund does not impose any sales charges.
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination	These fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will continue for at least one year or until such time as the Fund's Board of Trustees acts to discontinue all or a portion of such waivers and/or expense reimbursements when it deems such action appropriate.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund, your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund invests in high quality, short-term U.S. government securities. In selecting investments, the Adviser and/or Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited ("Sub-Adviser") seek to maintain the Fund's share price at $1.00. The U.S. government securities that the Fund may purchase include: U.S Treasury bills, notes and bonds, all of which are direct obligations of the U.S. Government; securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. Government, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States; securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities which are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, but whose issuing agency or instrumentality has the right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to meet its obligations; securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities which are backed solely by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality; and securities guaranteed under the FDIC Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program. The Fund also may invest up to 10% of its assets in FDIC insured certificates of deposit of banks and savings and loan institutions. In addition, the Fund may invest in repurchase agreements.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, if it is unable to do so, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund include: • Credit and Interest Rate Risk. Debt obligations, such as bonds, are subject to   two types of risk: credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers to the   possibility that the issuer of a security will be unable to make interest payments   and/or repay the principal on its debt. Interest rate risk refers to fluctuations   in the value of a debt security resulting from changes in the general level of   interest rates. • U.S. Government Securities. With respect to U.S. government securities that   are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, there is the   risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to such U.S.   government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not   obligated to do so by law. • Repurchase Agreements. Repurchase agreements are subject to risks associated   with the possibility of default by the seller at a time when the collateral   has declined in value, or insolvency of the seller, which may affect the Fund's   right to control the collateral and result in certain costs and delays. Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the FDIC or any other government agency.
Risk Money Market Fund [Text]	rr_RiskMoneyMarketFund	Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, if it is unable to do so, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the FDIC or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Past Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing the Fund's average annual returns for the one, five and 10 year periods. The Fund's past performance does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing the Fund's average annual returns for the one, five and 10 year periods.
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	The Fund's past performance does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns--Calendar Years
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	The year-to-date total return as of September 30, 2012 was 0.01%. High Quarter 9/30/06 1.16% Low Quarter 6/30/09 0.00%
Performance Table Closing [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock	For the Fund's most recent 7-day annualized yield you may call toll-free (800) 869-NEWS.
Caption	rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption	Average Annual Total Returns (as of December 31, 2011)
Money Market Seven Day Yield Phone	rr_MoneyMarketSevenDayYieldPhone	(800) 869-NEWS
ACTIVE ASSETS GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TRUST (Prospectus Summary) | ACTIVE ASSETS GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TRUST | ACTIVE ASSETS GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TRUST
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Advisory Fee	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.45%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.10%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.15%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.70%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.59%)	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.11%	[1]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	11
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	35
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	62
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	141
Annual Return 2002	rr_AnnualReturn2002	1.25%
Annual Return 2003	rr_AnnualReturn2003	0.60%
Annual Return 2004	rr_AnnualReturn2004	0.79%
Annual Return 2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	2.63%
Annual Return 2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	4.39%
Annual Return 2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	4.64%
Annual Return 2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	1.99%
Annual Return 2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	0.01%
Annual Return 2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	0.01%
Annual Return 2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	0.01%
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	The year-to-date total return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2012
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	0.01%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	High Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2006
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	1.16%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Low Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	0.00%
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.01%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	1.32%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	1.62%

[1] The Fund's "Distributor," Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc., its "Adviser," Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., and its "Administrator," Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc., have agreed to waive and/or reimburse all or a portion of the Fund's distribution fee, advisory fee and administration fee, respectively, to the extent that total expenses exceed total income on a daily basis. These fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will continue for at least one year or until such time as the Fund's Board of Trustees acts to discontinue all or a portion of such waivers and/or expense reimbursements when it deems such action appropriate.

XML

ACTIVE ASSETS TAX FREE TRUST (Prospectus Summary) | ACTIVE ASSETS TAX FREE TRUST

Active Assets Tax-Free Trust

Investment Objective

Active Assets Tax-Free Trust is a money market fund that seeks to provide as
high a level of daily income exempt from federal personal income tax as is
consistent with stability of principal and liquidity.

Fees and Expenses

The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of the Fund. The Fund is a no-load fund. The Fund does not impose
any sales charges.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses		ACTIVE ASSETS TAX FREE TRUST
Advisory Fee		0.24%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees		0.10%
Other Expenses		0.07%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses		0.41%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	[1]	0.27%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	[1]	0.14%

Example

The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund, your investment has a
5% return each year, and the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although
your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs
would be:

Expense Example (USD $)	Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
ACTIVE ASSETS TAX FREE TRUST	14	45	79	179

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund will invest in high quality, short-term securities that are normally
municipal obligations that pay interest exempt from federal income taxes. The
Adviser seeks to maintain the Fund's share price at $1.00. The Fund has a
fundamental policy of investing at least 80% of its net assets in securities
the interest on which is exempt from federal personal income tax. This policy
may not be changed without shareholder approval. In addition, the Fund may
invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities that pay interest income
subject to the "alternative minimum tax," and some taxpayers may have to pay
tax on a Fund distribution of this income. For more information, please see
the "Tax Consequences" section beginning on page 26 of this Prospectus.

Municipal obligations are securities issued by state and local governments and
their agencies. These securities typically are "general obligation" or "revenue"
bonds, notes or commercial paper, including participations in lease obligations
and installment purchase contracts of municipalities.

The Fund may purchase debt obligations that have fixed, variable or floating
rates of interest. The interest rates payable on variable or floating rate
obligations may fluctuate based upon changes in market rates.

The Fund's investments may include tender option bonds and custodial receipts.
Tender option bonds are municipal obligations held pursuant to a custodial
arrangement and issued pursuant to an agreement with a third-party such as a
bank or financial institution to provide the holder with the option of tendering
the bond at periodic intervals. The holder of the tender option bond effectively
holds a demand obligation that bears interest at prevailing short-term rates.
Custodial receipts represent interests in future interest and/or principal
payments on U.S. government securities or municipal obligations. Additionally,
the Fund may invest in investment companies, including money market funds some
or all of which may be advised or managed by the Adviser or its affiliates.

Principal Risks

There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.
Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per
share, if it is unable to do so, it is possible to lose money by investing in
the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund include:

• Credit and Interest Rate Risk. Debt obligations, such as bonds, are subject
  to two types of risk: credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers
  to thepossibility that the issuer of a security will be unable to make interest
  payments and/or repay the principal on its debt. In the case of revenue bonds,
  notes or commercial paper, for example, the credit risk is the possibility that
  the user fees from a project or other specified revenue sources are insufficient
  to meet interest and/or principal payment obligations. Interest rate risk refers
  to fluctuations in the value of a debt security resulting from changes in the
  general level of interest rates.

• Tender Option Bonds and Custodial Receipts. The risks of tender option bonds
  and custodial receipts include the risk that the owner of such instruments may
  not be considered the owner for federal income tax purposes and thus will not be
  entitled to treat such interest as exempt from federal income tax. Additionally,
  the occurrence of certain defaults or a credit rating downgrade on the underlying
  security may impair the ability to tender the bond or receipt back to the third-party
  provider of the demand option, thus causing the bond or receipt to become illiquid.

• Investment Companies. An investment in an investment company is subject to the
  underlying risks of that investment company's portfolio securities. In addition
  to the Fund's fees and expenses, the Fund generally would bear its share of the
  investment company's fees and expenses.

Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by
the FDIC or any other government agency.

Past Performance

The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing
in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and
by showing the Fund's average annual returns for the one, five and 10 year
periods. The Fund's past performance does not indicate how the Fund will perform
in the future.

Annual Total Returns--Calendar Years

The year-to-date total return as of September 30, 2012 was 0.01%.

High Quarter 6/30/07 0.83%

Low Quarter 3/31/11 0.00%

Average Annual Total Returns (as of December 31, 2011)

Average Annual Total Returns	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
ACTIVE ASSETS TAX FREE TRUST	0.01%	1.01%	1.23%

For the Fund's most recent 7-day annualized yield you may call toll-free (800)
869-NEWS.

[1] The Fund's "Distributor," Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc., its "Adviser," Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., and its "Administrator," Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc., have agreed to waive and/or reimburse all or a portion of the Fund's distribution fee, advisory fee and administration fee, respectively, to the extent that total expenses exceed total income on a daily basis. These fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will continue for at least one year or until such time as the Fund's Board of Trustees acts to discontinue all or a portion of such waivers and/or expense reimbursements when it deems such action appropriate.

XML

ACTIVE ASSETS MONEY TRUST (Prospectus Summary) | ACTIVE ASSETS MONEY TRUST

Active Assets Money Trust

Investment Objectives

Active Assets Money Trust is a money market fund that seeks to provide high
current income, preservation of capital and liquidity.

Fees and Expenses

The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of the Fund. The Fund is a no-load fund. The Fund does not impose
any sales charges.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses		ACTIVE ASSETS MONEY TRUST
Advisory Fee		0.24%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees		0.10%
Other Expenses		0.08%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses		0.42%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	[1]	0.19%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	[1]	0.23%

Example

The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund, your investment has a
5% return each year, and the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although
your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs
would be:

Expense Example (USD $)	Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
ACTIVE ASSETS MONEY TRUST	24	74	130	293

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund invests in high quality, short-term debt obligations. In selecting
investments, the Adviser and/or Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited
("Sub-Adviser") seek to maintain the Fund's share price at $1.00. The Fund's
investments include the following money market instruments: corporate
obligations (including but not limited to commercial paper); debt obligations
of U.S.-regulated banks (including domestic branches or subsidiaries of foreign
banks) and instruments secured by those obligations (including certificates of
deposit); certificates of deposit of savings banks and savings and loan
associations; debt obligations issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest
by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, including U.S.
government securities guaranteed under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
("FDIC") Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program; asset-backed securities; U.S.
dollar-denominated foreign bank obligations; and repurchase agreements.

Principal Risks

There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.
Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per
share, if it is unable to do so, it is possible to lose money by investing in
the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund include:

• Credit and Interest Rate Risk. Debt obligations, such as bonds, are subject
  to two types of risk: credit and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers to
  the possibility that the issuer of a security will be unable to make interest
  payments and/or repay the principal on its debt. Interest rate risk refers to
  fluctuations in the value of a debt security resulting from changes in the
  general level of interest rates.

• U.S. Government Securities. With respect to U.S. government securities that
  are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, there is the
  risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to such U.S.
  government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not
  obligated to do so by law.

• Asset-Backed Securities. Asset-backed securities involve the risk that the
  various federal and state consumer laws and other legal and economic factors
  may result in the collateral backing the securities being insufficient to
  support payment on the securities. Some asset-backed securities also entail
  prepayment risk, which may vary depending on the type of asset.

• Foreign Money Market Securities. Investing in money market securities of
  foreign issuers involves some additional risks, including the possibility of
  adverse political, economic or other developments affecting the issuers of
  these securities.

• Repurchase Agreements. Repurchase agreements are subject to risks associated
  with the possibility of default by the seller at a time when the collateral has
  declined in value, or insolvency of the seller, which may affect the Fund's
  right to control the collateral and result in certain costs and delays.

Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by
the FDIC or any other government agency.

Past Performance

The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing
in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and
by showing the Fund's average annual returns for the one, five and 10 year
periods. The Fund's past performance does not indicate how the Fund will perform
in the future.

Annual Total Returns--Calendar Years

The year-to-date total return as of September 30, 2012 was 0.01%.

High Quarter 9/30/07 1.24%

Low Quarter 6/30/09 0.00%

Average Annual Total Returns (as of December 31, 2011)

Average Annual Total Returns	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
ACTIVE ASSETS MONEY TRUST	0.01%	1.52%	1.83%

For the Fund's most recent 7-day annualized yield you may call toll-free (800)
869-NEWS.

[1] The Fund's "Distributor," Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc., its "Adviser," Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., and its "Administrator," Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc., have agreed to waive and/or reimburse all or a portion of the Fund's distribution fee, advisory fee and administration fee, respectively, to the extent that total expenses exceed total income on a daily basis. These fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will continue for at least one year or until such time as the Fund's Board of Trustees acts to discontinue all or a portion of such waivers and/or expense reimbursements when it deems such action appropriate.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
ProspectusDate	rr_ProspectusDate	Oct. 31, 2012
ACTIVE ASSETS MONEY TRUST (Prospectus Summary) | ACTIVE ASSETS MONEY TRUST
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Active Assets Money Trust
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objectives
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	Active Assets Money Trust is a money market fund that seeks to provide high current income, preservation of capital and liquidity.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. The Fund is a no-load fund. The Fund does not impose any sales charges.
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund, your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund invests in high quality, short-term debt obligations. In selecting investments, the Adviser and/or Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited ("Sub-Adviser") seek to maintain the Fund's share price at $1.00. The Fund's investments include the following money market instruments: corporate obligations (including but not limited to commercial paper); debt obligations of U.S.-regulated banks (including domestic branches or subsidiaries of foreign banks) and instruments secured by those obligations (including certificates of deposit); certificates of deposit of savings banks and savings and loan associations; debt obligations issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, including U.S. government securities guaranteed under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program; asset-backed securities; U.S. dollar-denominated foreign bank obligations; and repurchase agreements.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, if it is unable to do so, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund include: • Credit and Interest Rate Risk. Debt obligations, such as bonds, are subject   to two types of risk: credit and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers to   the possibility that the issuer of a security will be unable to make interest   payments and/or repay the principal on its debt. Interest rate risk refers to   fluctuations in the value of a debt security resulting from changes in the   general level of interest rates. • U.S. Government Securities. With respect to U.S. government securities that   are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, there is the   risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to such U.S.   government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not   obligated to do so by law. • Asset-Backed Securities. Asset-backed securities involve the risk that the   various federal and state consumer laws and other legal and economic factors   may result in the collateral backing the securities being insufficient to   support payment on the securities. Some asset-backed securities also entail   prepayment risk, which may vary depending on the type of asset. • Foreign Money Market Securities. Investing in money market securities of   foreign issuers involves some additional risks, including the possibility of   adverse political, economic or other developments affecting the issuers of   these securities. • Repurchase Agreements. Repurchase agreements are subject to risks associated   with the possibility of default by the seller at a time when the collateral has   declined in value, or insolvency of the seller, which may affect the Fund's   right to control the collateral and result in certain costs and delays. Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the FDIC or any other government agency.
Risk Money Market Fund [Text]	rr_RiskMoneyMarketFund	Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, if it is unable to do so, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the FDIC or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Past Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing the Fund's average annual returns for the one, five and 10 year periods. The Fund's past performance does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing the Fund's average annual returns for the one, five and 10 year periods.
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	The Fund's past performance does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns--Calendar Years
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	The year-to-date total return as of September 30, 2012 was 0.01%. High Quarter 9/30/07 1.24% Low Quarter 6/30/09 0.00%
Performance Table Closing [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock	For the Fund's most recent 7-day annualized yield you may call toll-free (800) 869-NEWS.
Caption	rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption	Average Annual Total Returns (as of December 31, 2011)
Money Market Seven Day Yield Phone	rr_MoneyMarketSevenDayYieldPhone	(800) 869-NEWS
ACTIVE ASSETS MONEY TRUST (Prospectus Summary) | ACTIVE ASSETS MONEY TRUST | ACTIVE ASSETS MONEY TRUST
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Advisory Fee	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.24%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.10%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.08%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.42%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.19%)	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.23%	[1]
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination	These fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will continue for at least one year or until such time as the Fund's Board of Trustees acts to discontinue all or a portion of such waivers and/or expense reimbursements when it deems such action appropriate.
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	24
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	74
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	130
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	293
Annual Return 2002	rr_AnnualReturn2002	1.46%
Annual Return 2003	rr_AnnualReturn2003	0.78%
Annual Return 2004	rr_AnnualReturn2004	0.99%
Annual Return 2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	2.85%
Annual Return 2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	4.68%
Annual Return 2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	5.01%
Annual Return 2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	2.63%
Annual Return 2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	0.03%
Annual Return 2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	0.01%
Annual Return 2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	0.01%
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	The year-to-date total return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2012
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	0.01%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	High Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2007
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	1.24%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Low Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	0.00%
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.01%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	1.52%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	1.83%

[1] The Fund's "Distributor," Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc., its "Adviser," Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., and its "Administrator," Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc., have agreed to waive and/or reimburse all or a portion of the Fund's distribution fee, advisory fee and administration fee, respectively, to the extent that total expenses exceed total income on a daily basis. These fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will continue for at least one year or until such time as the Fund's Board of Trustees acts to discontinue all or a portion of such waivers and/or expense reimbursements when it deems such action appropriate.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Document Type	dei_DocumentType	485BPOS
Document Period End Date	dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate	Jun. 30, 2012
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	ACTIVE ASSETS TAX FREE TRUST
Central Index Key	dei_EntityCentralIndexKey	0000351881
Amendment Flag	dei_AmendmentFlag	false
Document Creation Date	dei_DocumentCreationDate	Oct. 26, 2012
Document Effective Date	dei_DocumentEffectiveDate	Oct. 31, 2012
ACTIVE ASSETS MONEY TRUST (Prospectus Summary) | ACTIVE ASSETS MONEY TRUST | ACTIVE ASSETS MONEY TRUST
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	AAMXX
ACTIVE ASSETS TAX FREE TRUST (Prospectus Summary) | ACTIVE ASSETS TAX FREE TRUST | ACTIVE ASSETS TAX FREE TRUST
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	AATXX
ACTIVE ASSETS CALIFORNIA TAX FREE TRUST (Prospectus Summary) | ACTIVE ASSETS CALIFORNIA TAX FREE TRUST | ACTIVE ASSETS CALIFORNIA TAX FREE TRUST
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	AACXX
ACTIVE ASSETS GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TRUST (Prospectus Summary) | ACTIVE ASSETS GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TRUST | ACTIVE ASSETS GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TRUST
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	AAGXX

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
ProspectusDate	rr_ProspectusDate	Oct. 31, 2012
ACTIVE ASSETS CALIFORNIA TAX FREE TRUST (Prospectus Summary) | ACTIVE ASSETS CALIFORNIA TAX FREE TRUST
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust is a money market fund that seeks to provide as high a level of daily income exempt from federal and California personal income tax as is consistent with stability of principal and liquidity.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. The Fund is a no-load fund. The Fund does not impose any sales charges.
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination	These fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will continue for at least one year or until such time as the Fund's Board of Trustees acts to discontinue all or a portion of such waivers and/or expense reimbursements when it deems such action appropriate.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund, your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund will invest in high quality, short-term securities that are normally municipal obligations that pay interest exempt from federal and California personal income taxes. The Adviser seeks to maintain the Fund's share price at$1.00. The Adviser generally invests substantially all of the Fund's assets in California municipal obligations and the Fund has a fundamental policy of investing at least 80% of its net assets in securities the interest on which is exempt from federal and California personal income tax. This policy may not be changed without shareholder approval. In addition, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities that pay interest income subject to the "alternative minimum tax," and some taxpayers may have to pay tax on a Fund distribution of this income. For more information, see the "Tax Consequences" section beginning on page 26 of this Prospectus. Municipal obligations are securities issued by state and local governments and their agencies. These securities typically are "general obligation" or "revenue" bonds, notes or commercial paper, including participations in lease obligations and installment purchase contracts of municipalities. The Fund may purchase debt obligations that have fixed, variable or floating rates of interest. The interest rates payable on variable or floating rate obligations may fluctuate based upon changes in market rates. The Fund's investments may include tender option bonds and custodial receipts. Tender option bonds are municipal obligations held pursuant to a custodial arrangement and issued pursuant to an agreement with a third-party such as a bank or financial institution to provide the holder with the option of tendering the bond at periodic intervals. The holder of the tender option bond effectively holds a demand obligation that bears interest at prevailing short-term rates. Custodial receipts represent interests in future interest and/or principal payments on U.S. government securities or municipal obligations. Additionally, the Fund may invest in investment companies, including money market funds some or all of which may be advised or managed by the Adviser or its affiliates.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, if it is unable to do so, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund include: • Credit and Interest Rate Risk. Debt obligations, such as bonds, are subject   to two types of risk: credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers   to the possibility that the issuer of a security will be unable to make interest   payments and/or repay the principal on its debt. In the case of revenue bonds,   notes or commercial paper, for example, the credit risk is the possibility that   the user fees from a project or other specified revenue sources are insufficient   to meet interest and/or principal payment obligations. Interest rate risk refers   to fluctuations in the value of a debt security resulting from changes in the   general level of interest rates. • Tender Option Bonds and Custodial Receipts. The risks of tender option bonds   and custodial receipts include the risk that the owner of such instruments may   not be considered the owner for federal income tax purposes and thus will not be   entitled to treat such interest as exempt from federal income tax. Additionally,   the occurrence of certain defaults or a credit rating downgrade on the underlying   security may impair the ability to tender the bond or receipt back to the   third-party provider of the demand option, thus causing the bond or receipt   to become illiquid. • Investment Companies. An investment in an investment company is subject to the   underlying risks of that investment company's portfolio securities. In addition   to the Fund's fees and expenses, the Fund generally would bear its share of the   investment company's fees and expenses. • California Municipal Securities Risks. As the Fund invests principally in   municipal obligations issued by state and local governments and their agencies,   the Fund is susceptible to political, economic, or other factors affecting   issuers of California municipal obligations. The deterioration of California's   fiscal situation as a result of recent economic conditions increases the risk   of investing in California municipal securities. Several major ratings agencies   have downgraded California's general obligation bond rating in recent years. A   default or credit rating downgrade of a small number of California municipal   security issuers could affect the market values and marketability of all   California municipal obligations held by the Fund and the Fund's performance. Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the FDIC or any other government agency.
Risk Money Market Fund [Text]	rr_RiskMoneyMarketFund	Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, if it is unable to do so, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the FDIC or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Past Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing the Fund's average annual returns for the one, five and 10 year periods. The Fund's past performance does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing the Fund's average annual returns for the one, five and 10 year periods.
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	The Fund's past performance does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns--Calendar Years
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	The year-to-date total return as of September 30, 2012 was 0.01%. High Quarter 6/30/07 0.79% Low Quarter 6/30/09 0.00%
Performance Table Closing [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock	For the Fund's most recent 7-day annualized yield you may call toll-free (800) 869-NEWS.
Caption	rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption	Average Annual Total Returns (as of December 31, 2011)
Money Market Seven Day Yield Phone	rr_MoneyMarketSevenDayYieldPhone	(800) 869-NEWS
ACTIVE ASSETS CALIFORNIA TAX FREE TRUST (Prospectus Summary) | ACTIVE ASSETS CALIFORNIA TAX FREE TRUST | ACTIVE ASSETS CALIFORNIA TAX FREE TRUST
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Advisory Fee	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.33%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.10%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.07%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.50%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.36%)	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.14%	[1]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	14
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	45
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	79
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	179
Annual Return 2002	rr_AnnualReturn2002	0.80%
Annual Return 2003	rr_AnnualReturn2003	0.41%
Annual Return 2004	rr_AnnualReturn2004	0.60%
Annual Return 2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	1.78%
Annual Return 2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	2.82%
Annual Return 2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	3.10%
Annual Return 2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	1.55%
Annual Return 2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	0.02%
Annual Return 2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	0.01%
Annual Return 2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	0.01%
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	The year-to-date total return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2012
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	0.01%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	High Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2007
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	0.79%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Low Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2009
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	0.00%
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.01%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	0.93%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	1.10%

[1] The Fund's "Distributor," Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc., its "Adviser," Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., and its "Administrator," Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc., have agreed to waive and/or reimburse all or a portion of the Fund's distribution fee, advisory fee and administration fee, respectively, to the extent that total expenses exceed total income on a daily basis. These fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will continue for at least one year or until such time as the Fund's Board of Trustees acts to discontinue all or a portion of such waivers and/or expense reimbursements when it deems such action appropriate.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
ProspectusDate	rr_ProspectusDate	Oct. 31, 2012
ACTIVE ASSETS TAX FREE TRUST (Prospectus Summary) | ACTIVE ASSETS TAX FREE TRUST
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Active Assets Tax-Free Trust
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	Active Assets Tax-Free Trust is a money market fund that seeks to provide as high a level of daily income exempt from federal personal income tax as is consistent with stability of principal and liquidity.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and Expenses
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. The Fund is a no-load fund. The Fund does not impose any sales charges.
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination	These fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will continue for at least one year or until such time as the Fund's Board of Trustees acts to discontinue all or a portion of such waivers and/or expense reimbursements when it deems such action appropriate.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund, your investment has a 5% return each year, and the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The Fund will invest in high quality, short-term securities that are normally municipal obligations that pay interest exempt from federal income taxes. The Adviser seeks to maintain the Fund's share price at $1.00. The Fund has a fundamental policy of investing at least 80% of its net assets in securities the interest on which is exempt from federal personal income tax. This policy may not be changed without shareholder approval. In addition, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities that pay interest income subject to the "alternative minimum tax," and some taxpayers may have to pay tax on a Fund distribution of this income. For more information, please see the "Tax Consequences" section beginning on page 26 of this Prospectus. Municipal obligations are securities issued by state and local governments and their agencies. These securities typically are "general obligation" or "revenue" bonds, notes or commercial paper, including participations in lease obligations and installment purchase contracts of municipalities. The Fund may purchase debt obligations that have fixed, variable or floating rates of interest. The interest rates payable on variable or floating rate obligations may fluctuate based upon changes in market rates. The Fund's investments may include tender option bonds and custodial receipts. Tender option bonds are municipal obligations held pursuant to a custodial arrangement and issued pursuant to an agreement with a third-party such as a bank or financial institution to provide the holder with the option of tendering the bond at periodic intervals. The holder of the tender option bond effectively holds a demand obligation that bears interest at prevailing short-term rates. Custodial receipts represent interests in future interest and/or principal payments on U.S. government securities or municipal obligations. Additionally, the Fund may invest in investment companies, including money market funds some or all of which may be advised or managed by the Adviser or its affiliates.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, if it is unable to do so, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund include: • Credit and Interest Rate Risk. Debt obligations, such as bonds, are subject   to two types of risk: credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers   to thepossibility that the issuer of a security will be unable to make interest   payments and/or repay the principal on its debt. In the case of revenue bonds,   notes or commercial paper, for example, the credit risk is the possibility that   the user fees from a project or other specified revenue sources are insufficient   to meet interest and/or principal payment obligations. Interest rate risk refers   to fluctuations in the value of a debt security resulting from changes in the   general level of interest rates. • Tender Option Bonds and Custodial Receipts. The risks of tender option bonds   and custodial receipts include the risk that the owner of such instruments may   not be considered the owner for federal income tax purposes and thus will not be   entitled to treat such interest as exempt from federal income tax. Additionally,   the occurrence of certain defaults or a credit rating downgrade on the underlying   security may impair the ability to tender the bond or receipt back to the third-party   provider of the demand option, thus causing the bond or receipt to become illiquid. • Investment Companies. An investment in an investment company is subject to the   underlying risks of that investment company's portfolio securities. In addition   to the Fund's fees and expenses, the Fund generally would bear its share of the   investment company's fees and expenses. Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the FDIC or any other government agency.
Risk Money Market Fund [Text]	rr_RiskMoneyMarketFund	Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, if it is unable to do so, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by the FDIC or any other government agency.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Past Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing the Fund's average annual returns for the one, five and 10 year periods. The Fund's past performance does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and by showing the Fund's average annual returns for the one, five and 10 year periods.
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	The Fund's past performance does not indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Annual Total Returns--Calendar Years
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	The year-to-date total return as of September 30, 2012 was 0.01%. High Quarter 6/30/07 0.83% Low Quarter 3/31/11 0.00%
Performance Table Closing [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock	For the Fund's most recent 7-day annualized yield you may call toll-free (800) 869-NEWS.
Caption	rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption	Average Annual Total Returns (as of December 31, 2011)
Thirty Day Yield Phone	rr_ThirtyDayYieldPhone	(800) 869-NEWS
ACTIVE ASSETS TAX FREE TRUST (Prospectus Summary) | ACTIVE ASSETS TAX FREE TRUST | ACTIVE ASSETS TAX FREE TRUST
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Advisory Fee	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.24%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.10%
Other Expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.07%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.41%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.27%)	[1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.14%	[1]
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	14
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	45
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	79
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	179
Annual Return 2002	rr_AnnualReturn2002	0.99%
Annual Return 2003	rr_AnnualReturn2003	0.57%
Annual Return 2004	rr_AnnualReturn2004	0.74%
Annual Return 2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	1.94%
Annual Return 2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	3.01%
Annual Return 2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	3.28%
Annual Return 2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	1.73%
Annual Return 2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	0.04%
Annual Return 2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	0.01%
Annual Return 2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	0.01%
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	The year-to-date total return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2012
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	0.01%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	High Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2007
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	0.83%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Low Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	0.00%
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.01%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	1.01%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	1.23%

[1] The Fund's "Distributor," Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc., its "Adviser," Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., and its "Administrator," Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc., have agreed to waive and/or reimburse all or a portion of the Fund's distribution fee, advisory fee and administration fee, respectively, to the extent that total expenses exceed total income on a daily basis. These fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will continue for at least one year or until such time as the Fund's Board of Trustees acts to discontinue all or a portion of such waivers and/or expense reimbursements when it deems such action appropriate.

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ACTIVE ASSETS CALIFORNIA TAX FREE TRUST (Prospectus Summary) | ACTIVE ASSETS CALIFORNIA TAX FREE TRUST

Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust

Investment Objective

Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust is a money market fund that seeks to
provide as high a level of daily income exempt from federal and California
personal income tax as is consistent with stability of principal and liquidity.

Fees and Expenses

The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of the Fund. The Fund is a no-load fund. The Fund does not impose
any sales charges.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses		ACTIVE ASSETS CALIFORNIA TAX FREE TRUST
Advisory Fee		0.33%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees		0.10%
Other Expenses		0.07%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses		0.50%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	[1]	0.36%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	[1]	0.14%

Example

The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund, your investment has a
5% return each year, and the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although
your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs
would be:

Expense Example (USD $)	Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
ACTIVE ASSETS CALIFORNIA TAX FREE TRUST	14	45	79	179

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund will invest in high quality, short-term securities that are normally
municipal obligations that pay interest exempt from federal and California
personal income taxes. The Adviser seeks to maintain the Fund's share price
at$1.00. The Adviser generally invests substantially all of the Fund's assets
in California municipal obligations and the Fund has a fundamental policy of
investing at least 80% of its net assets in securities the interest on which
is exempt from federal and California personal income tax. This policy may not
be changed without shareholder approval. In addition, the Fund may invest up
to 20% of its net assets in securities that pay interest income subject to the
"alternative minimum tax," and some taxpayers may have to pay tax on a Fund
distribution of this income. For more information, see the "Tax Consequences"
section beginning on page 26 of this Prospectus.

Municipal obligations are securities issued by state and local governments and
their agencies. These securities typically are "general obligation" or "revenue"
bonds, notes or commercial paper, including participations in lease obligations
and installment purchase contracts of municipalities.

The Fund may purchase debt obligations that have fixed, variable or floating
rates of interest. The interest rates payable on variable or floating rate
obligations may fluctuate based upon changes in market rates.

The Fund's investments may include tender option bonds and custodial receipts.
Tender option bonds are municipal obligations held pursuant to a custodial
arrangement and issued pursuant to an agreement with a third-party such as
a bank or financial institution to provide the holder with the option of
tendering the bond at periodic intervals. The holder of the tender option
bond effectively holds a demand obligation that bears interest at prevailing
short-term rates. Custodial receipts represent interests in future interest
and/or principal payments on U.S. government securities or municipal obligations.
Additionally, the Fund may invest in investment companies, including money market
funds some or all of which may be advised or managed by the Adviser or its
affiliates.

Principal Risks

There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.
Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per
share, if it is unable to do so, it is possible to lose money by investing in
the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund include:

• Credit and Interest Rate Risk. Debt obligations, such as bonds, are subject
  to two types of risk: credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers
  to the possibility that the issuer of a security will be unable to make interest
  payments and/or repay the principal on its debt. In the case of revenue bonds,
  notes or commercial paper, for example, the credit risk is the possibility that
  the user fees from a project or other specified revenue sources are insufficient
  to meet interest and/or principal payment obligations. Interest rate risk refers
  to fluctuations in the value of a debt security resulting from changes in the
  general level of interest rates.

• Tender Option Bonds and Custodial Receipts. The risks of tender option bonds
  and custodial receipts include the risk that the owner of such instruments may
  not be considered the owner for federal income tax purposes and thus will not be
  entitled to treat such interest as exempt from federal income tax. Additionally,
  the occurrence of certain defaults or a credit rating downgrade on the underlying
  security may impair the ability to tender the bond or receipt back to the
  third-party provider of the demand option, thus causing the bond or receipt
  to become illiquid.

• Investment Companies. An investment in an investment company is subject to the
  underlying risks of that investment company's portfolio securities. In addition
  to the Fund's fees and expenses, the Fund generally would bear its share of the
  investment company's fees and expenses.

• California Municipal Securities Risks. As the Fund invests principally in
  municipal obligations issued by state and local governments and their agencies,
  the Fund is susceptible to political, economic, or other factors affecting
  issuers of California municipal obligations. The deterioration of California's
  fiscal situation as a result of recent economic conditions increases the risk
  of investing in California municipal securities. Several major ratings agencies
  have downgraded California's general obligation bond rating in recent years. A
  default or credit rating downgrade of a small number of California municipal
  security issuers could affect the market values and marketability of all
  California municipal obligations held by the Fund and the Fund's performance.

Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by
the FDIC or any other government agency.

Past Performance

The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing
in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and
by showing the Fund's average annual returns for the one, five and 10 year
periods. The Fund's past performance does not indicate how the Fund will perform
in the future.

Annual Total Returns--Calendar Years

The year-to-date total return as of September 30, 2012 was 0.01%.

High Quarter 6/30/07 0.79%

Low Quarter 6/30/09 0.00%

Average Annual Total Returns (as of December 31, 2011)

Average Annual Total Returns	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
ACTIVE ASSETS CALIFORNIA TAX FREE TRUST	0.01%	0.93%	1.10%

For the Fund's most recent 7-day annualized yield you may call toll-free (800)
869-NEWS.

[1] The Fund's "Distributor," Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc., its "Adviser," Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., and its "Administrator," Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc., have agreed to waive and/or reimburse all or a portion of the Fund's distribution fee, advisory fee and administration fee, respectively, to the extent that total expenses exceed total income on a daily basis. These fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will continue for at least one year or until such time as the Fund's Board of Trustees acts to discontinue all or a portion of such waivers and/or expense reimbursements when it deems such action appropriate.

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ACTIVE ASSETS GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TRUST (Prospectus Summary) | ACTIVE ASSETS GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TRUST

Active Assets Government Securities Trust

Investment Objectives

Active Assets Government Securities Trust is a money market fund that seeks to
provide high current income, preservation of capital and liquidity.

Fees and Expenses

The table below describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and
hold shares of the Fund. The Fund is a no-load fund. The Fund does not impose
any sales charges.

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses		ACTIVE ASSETS GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TRUST
Advisory Fee		0.45%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees		0.10%
Other Expenses		0.15%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses		0.70%
Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	[1]	0.59%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements	[1]	0.11%

Example

The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the
Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund, your investment has a
5% return each year, and the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although
your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs
would be:

Expense Example (USD $)	Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
ACTIVE ASSETS GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TRUST	11	35	62	141

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund invests in high quality, short-term U.S. government securities. In
selecting investments, the Adviser and/or Morgan Stanley Investment Management
Limited ("Sub-Adviser") seek to maintain the Fund's share price at $1.00. The
U.S. government securities that the Fund may purchase include: U.S Treasury
bills, notes and bonds, all of which are direct obligations of the U.S.
Government; securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S.
Government, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States;
securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities which are not backed by the
full faith and credit of the United States, but whose issuing agency or
instrumentality has the right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to meet its
obligations; securities issued by agencies and instrumentalities which are
backed solely by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality; and
securities guaranteed under the FDIC Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program.
The Fund also may invest up to 10% of its assets in FDIC insured certificates
of deposit of banks and savings and loan institutions. In addition, the Fund
may invest in repurchase agreements.

Principal Risks

There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.
Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per
share, if it is unable to do so, it is possible to lose money by investing in
the Fund. The principal risks of investing in the Fund include:

• Credit and Interest Rate Risk. Debt obligations, such as bonds, are subject to
  two types of risk: credit risk and interest rate risk. Credit risk refers to the
  possibility that the issuer of a security will be unable to make interest payments
  and/or repay the principal on its debt. Interest rate risk refers to fluctuations
  in the value of a debt security resulting from changes in the general level of
  interest rates.

• U.S. Government Securities. With respect to U.S. government securities that
  are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, there is the
  risk that the U.S. Government will not provide financial support to such U.S.
  government agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored enterprises if it is not
  obligated to do so by law.

• Repurchase Agreements. Repurchase agreements are subject to risks associated
  with the possibility of default by the seller at a time when the collateral
  has declined in value, or insolvency of the seller, which may affect the Fund's
  right to control the collateral and result in certain costs and delays.

Shares of the Fund are not bank deposits and are not guaranteed or insured by
the FDIC or any other government agency.

Past Performance

The bar chart and table below provide some indication of the risks of investing
in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year and
by showing the Fund's average annual returns for the one, five and 10 year
periods. The Fund's past performance does not indicate how the Fund will perform
in the future.

Annual Total Returns--Calendar Years

The year-to-date total return as of September 30, 2012 was 0.01%.

High Quarter 9/30/06 1.16%

Low Quarter 6/30/09 0.00%

Average Annual Total Returns (as of December 31, 2011)

Average Annual Total Returns	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
ACTIVE ASSETS GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TRUST	0.01%	1.32%	1.62%

For the Fund's most recent 7-day annualized yield you may call toll-free (800)
869-NEWS.

[1] The Fund's "Distributor," Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc., its "Adviser," Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., and its "Administrator," Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc., have agreed to waive and/or reimburse all or a portion of the Fund's distribution fee, advisory fee and administration fee, respectively, to the extent that total expenses exceed total income on a daily basis. These fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will continue for at least one year or until such time as the Fund's Board of Trustees acts to discontinue all or a portion of such waivers and/or expense reimbursements when it deems such action appropriate.